Spinous process fixation system and methods thereof

Abstract

An implantable device may comprise a barrel, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion. The barrel may be configured to transition from a collapsed form having a first height to an expanded form having a second height and wherein the second height is greater than the first height. The implantable device may further include an actuator assembly disposed in the barrel, the actuator assembly comprising a front ramped actuator in engagement with the barrel, a rear ramped actuator in engagement with the barrel, and a central screw that extends from the rear ramped actuator through the front ramped actuator. The implantable device may further comprise a first plate and a second plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for implanting a medical device in a patient, comprising:
 inserting a medical device including:
 a barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 an actuator assembly disposed in the barrel, the actuator assembly including a front ramped actuator in engagement with the barrel, a rear ramped actuator in engagement with the barrel, and a central screw that extends from the rear ramped actuator through the front ramped actuator; and 
 a first plate having a first portion that extends from the upper portion, a second portion that extends from the lower portion, and a first pivoting spike assembly disposed in the first plate and adapted to pivot relative to the first plate, the first pivoting spike assembly including one or more spikes extending from a first side of the first plate; 
 
 rotating the central screw disposed in the barrel to cause the barrel to transition from a collapsed form having a first height to an expanded form having a second height; 
 inserting onto the central screw a second plate having multiple spikes extending from a first side of the second plate; and 
 pivotally attaching the first pivoting spike assembly to the first plate with a fastener, 
 wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes a spring disposed to face the fastener such that when the spring is in an uncompressed state, the first pivoting spike assembly is free to move about the fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein when a compression force applied to the first pivoting spike assembly, the spring collapses upon the fastener to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes serrations and the fastener includes corresponding serrations that mesh with the serrations of the first pivoting spike assembly to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate when the compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising movably attaching the first pivoting spike assembly to the first plate with a fastener, wherein:
 the first pivoting spike assembly includes a spring disposed to face the fastener such that when the spring is in an uncompressed state, the first pivoting spike assembly is free to move about the fastener, and when a compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly, the spring collapse upon the fastener to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes serrations and the fastener includes corresponding serrations that mesh with the serrations of the first pivoting spike assembly to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate when the compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the barrel comprises ramped upper sidewalls in engagement with the rear ramped actuator and the front ramped actuator, and wherein the lower portion of the barrel comprises ramped lower sidewalls in engagement with the rear ramped actuator and the front ramped actuator. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ramped upper sidewalls and the ramped lower sidewalls define a central opening configured to receive graft packing material. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first plate is integrally formed with the upper portion of the barrel, and wherein the second portion of the first plate is integrally formed with the lower portion of the barrel. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second plate is a locking plate. 
     
     
       10. A method for implanting a medical device in a patient, comprising:
 inserting a medical device including:
 a barrel, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 an actuator assembly disposed in the barrel; 
 a first plate, formed integrally with the barrel, including a first portion that extends from the upper portion, a second portion that extends form the lower portion, and a first pivoting spike assembly disposed in the first plate and adapted to pivot relative to the first plate, the first pivoting spike assembly including one or more spikes extending from a first side of the first plate; and 
 a locking plate having multiple spikes extending from a first side of the locking plate, the locking plate configured to be received on a central screw disposed in the actuator assembly; 
 
 rotating the central screw disposed in the barrel to cause the barrel to transition from a collapsed form having a first height to an expanded form having a second height; 
 inserting onto the central screw the locking plate; and 
 pivotally attaching the first pivoting spike assembly to the first plate with a fastener, 
 wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes a spring disposed to face the fastener such that when the spring is in an uncompressed state, the first pivoting spike assembly is free to move about the fastener. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein when a compression force applied to the first pivoting spike assembly, the spring collapses upon the fastener to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes serrations and the fastener includes corresponding serrations that mesh with the serrations of the first pivoting spike assembly to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate when the compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising movably attaching the first pivoting spike assembly to the first plate with a fastener, wherein:
 the first pivoting spike assembly includes a spring disposed to face the fastener such that when the spring is in an uncompressed state, the first pivoting spike assembly is free to move about the fastener, and when a compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly, the spring collapse upon the fastener to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first pivoting spike assembly includes serrations and the fastener includes corresponding serrations that mesh with the serrations of the first pivoting spike assembly to immobilize the first pivoting spike assembly relative to the first plate when the compression force is applied to the first pivoting spike assembly. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises a front ramped actuator and a rear ramped actuator, and wherein the upper portion of the barrel comprises ramped upper sidewalls in engagement with the rear ramped actuator and the front ramped actuator, and wherein the lower portion of the barrel comprises ramped lower sidewalls in engagement with the rear ramped actuator and the front ramped actuator. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ramped upper sidewalls and the ramped lower sidewalls define a central opening configured to receive graft packing material.